West Baden Springs Hotel
Encyclopedia
The West Baden Springs Hotel is a historic landmark hotel in the town of West Baden Springs
in Orange County
, Indiana
, United States
, known for its vast dome
d atrium
. It is currently part of the French Lick Resort. Prior to the completion of the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina
, in 1955, the building had the largest free-spanning dome in the United States and was the largest in the world from 1902 to 1913. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974, became a National Historic Landmark
in 1987, and is a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
is credited with discovering the salt licks and mineral springs
in 1778. The evidence of salt deposits enticed the government to plan on mining large quantities of salt for the demands of meat preservation to be used by the early pioneers. It was then determined the saline content was not sufficient to support the large scale extraction of salt and the property was offered for sale. Dr. William Bowles purchased the large tract of land where the French Lick Springs Resort now sits and built a small inn on the site. In 1832, the first French Lick Springs Hotel
was constructed and the area became popular as a mineral springs resort. During the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, Dr. Bowles served as a commissioned officer in the US Army. Before leaving, Dr. Bowles signed a five year lease with Dr. John Lane, who agreed to enlarge and improve the facility. Through the deal Dr. Bowles would enjoy an improved facility with the potential for increased business at the lease's end. Dr. Lane would get back his initial investment as well as improved trade. However, the war lasted less than two years, and Dr. Bowles returned early.
The land Bowles bought from the government included the mineral springs one mile (1.6 km) north of French Lick, known as Mile Lick. Much of the property surrounding the springs at Mile Lick was marshy, subject to yearly flooding, and unsuitable to farming. Lane envisioned a business surpassing that of French Lick, and in 1851, he purchased 770 acres (3.1 km²) from Bowles. Lane assembled a sawmill, then erected a bridge to traverse Lick Creek. He then built a fine hotel, larger than the French Lick Springs Hotel, and the competition began.
, the German city known for its mineral springs), and the hotel name was changed likewise. In 1887, the Monon
railroad built an extension to take guests to the hotels and springs at French Lick and West Baden, who competed tooth and nail to offer the best service, entertainment, food and mineral water. West Baden marketed their water under the brand name, “Sprudel Water” with an elf named Sprudel. French Lick sold "Pluto Water" using a red devil trademark.
In the late 1800s, guests arrived from across the country on seven separate railroads for relaxation and the alleged curative powers of the mineral water. Sidewalks led from the hotel to seven numbered springs, all of which were covered by open wooden shelters.
A group that included Lee Wiley Sinclair from Salem, Indiana
, purchased the hotel and 667 acres (2.7 km²) in 1888 for $23,000 and over the next few years, he bought his partner's interest. Sinclair turned the facility into a cosmopolitan resort, including a casino advertised as "The Carlsbad
of America", an opera house and a two-deck, covered, one-third-mile oval bicycle and pony track. A lighted baseball diamond in the center of the track became the spring training grounds for several major league teams including the Cincinnati Reds
, Chicago White Sox
, Chicago Cubs
and Pittsburgh Pirates
. The whole structure burned down in the summer of 1901. No guests were injured, but Sinclair was forlorn. He invited Thomas Taggart
, who owned the French Lick Springs Hotel, to buy the West Baden property, but Taggart rebuffed the offer, boasting that he would expand his facility to handle more guests. Sinclair was outraged and declared that his new hotel would be fireproof and would have the world's largest dome. Most building professionals rejected a 200 feet (61 m) skylight as impossible, but unknown West Virginia architect Harrison Albright
designed the building and Oliver Wescott, a bridge engineer, designed the dome trusses.
To complete the structure before the first anniversary of the fire, a 500-man crew worked six days a week in 10-hour shifts for 270 days,
at a total cost of $414,000.
The new structure opened September 15, 1902 to rave reviews, and advertisements called it the Eighth Wonder of the World
. The resort's mineral water and baths were alleged to cure almost anything, and the hotel's amenities included a casino, live theater every night, opera, concerts, movies, bowling and billiards. Outside the hotel, guests had their choice of a natatorium
, two golf courses, bicycling on a double-decked covered oval bicycle track that was the largest in the country at 1760 feet (536.4 m), horseback riding, baseball, and several picturesque hiking trails. To cater to their well-heeled clientele, the hotel provided a bank and a stock brokerage. A trolley transported guests from the hotel's front door to nearby French Lick
. Palm trees grew in the huge atrium where birds had free range and guests relaxed on overstuffed furniture grouped in clusters under the 200 feet (61 m) dome. The fireplace in the atrium was enormous in scale and could accommodate logs as long as 14 feet (4.3 m).
Some early advertisements claimed over 700 rooms, but most sources today cite around 500. The main building contained six floors: the ground floor held the lobby, hotel management offices, the dining area, shops and meeting rooms; saunas and mineral baths were located on the top floor; guest rooms were built in two concentric circles around the atrium on the second through fifth floors. Rooms on the inner ring overlooked the atrium; forty 4th and 6th floor rooms had balconies into the atrium.
The hotel rooms were small by today's standards. Most rooms had one or two twin beds, and did not have a private bathroom.
Beginning in the late 1880s, southern Indiana was a favorite destination of the wealthy, famous, infamous, and near-famous who would relax, golf, gamble, enjoy fine dining, and be entertained.
Paul Dresser
composed Indiana's state song "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away
" at the hotel. Boxers John L. Sullivan
and James J. Corbett
trained there. Al Capone
and his bodyguards were frequent guests as was Diamond Jim Brady. Politicians included Mayor "Big Bill" Thompson
of Chicago
and New York Governor Al Smith; also General John J. Pershing
, writer George Ade
, and entertainer Eva Tanguay
.
Professional baseball teams even held their spring training in the region: Chicago Cubs
, Cincinnati Reds
, Philadelphia Phillies
, Pittsburgh Pirates
, St. Louis Browns and St. Louis Cardinals
.
Charles would not consent to major enhancements, but Lillian ignored his wishes and began a major restoration utilizing a Greco-Roman architectural style. During the years between 1917 and 1919, a mosaic terrazzo tile floor composed of 2 million one-inch squares of marble was installed in the Atrium by Italian artisans, and the huge fireplace was refaced with glazed ceramic tiles from the Rookwood Pottery Company
. Marble wainscotting was added to the atrium ground level walls, and the brick support columns were wrapped with canvas and painted to look like marble. Outside, an elaborate verandah
was constructed, the wooden shelters at the springs were replaced with brick structures, and a sunken garden was created with a fountain featuring an angel.
John Edward Ballard began his career as a bowling alley worker in the hotel, but made a fortune by operating an illegal gambling business in the area. Ballard also owned several nationally recognized touring circuses. The hotel improvements were financed using money borrowed from Ballard.
The hotel was used as Army hospital #35 between 1918 and 1919 for wounded soldiers returning from World War I
. Lillian was smitten by Lt. Charles Cooper during his stay at the hotel-hospital and fell in love. The Rexfords divorced in 1922; Lillian Sinclair sold the property to Ed Ballard for $1 million in 1923. Half the money repaid the debt to Ballard, and she kept the rest for her marriage to Cooper.
As ownership of automobiles increased, Florida destinations became more popular, and business declined in West Baden. Ballard tried to replace those guests with trade shows and conventions; however, the Wall Street Crash of 1929
began a downward spiral for the hotel. As word of the plummeting market spread, people congregated in the brokerage firm's offices at the hotel to confirm the news. By morning, nearly all the guests had left. Ballard kept the facility open for over two years, but few people stayed in luxury hotels during the depression
. He finally closed the hotel in June, 1932, and chose not to sell it to anyone who would turn it into a speakeasy
offering gambling and other vices. In 1934, he decided to donate the $7 million resort to a religious organization.
removed most of the hotel's luxurious fixtures, furnishings and decorations as they converted the building into an austere seminary
known as West Baden College, an affiliate of Loyola University Chicago
. The lobby was converted into a chapel, and stained-glass was installed in the windows and French doors.
The four Moorish towers were removed when they fell into disrepair.
At the Spring houses, truckloads of stone were dumped into the mineral spring pools, then capped with concrete and turned into shrines for the saints.
The Jesuits established a cemetery for the seminary's priests, which received 39 interments over the years. When the Jesuits sold the facility, they retained ownership of that small parcel of land and the Catholic Church in French Lick agreed to maintain the site.
The seminary operated for thirty years, but was closed following the 1963-1964 school year due to low enrollment and escalating maintenance costs. The Jesuits returned to Chicago.
, a private college founded in Midland, Michigan
, which operated a satellite campus of their business management school on the property until 1983.
While Northwood was still open, basketball legend Larry Bird
, who was born in West Baden, held basketball clinics and staged games in the atrium. Bird briefly attended Northwood after leaving Indiana University, and before resuming collegiate basketball at Indiana State University
.
After the school closed, a former Springs Valley resident purchased the property from Northwood in October, 1983. H. Eugene MacDonald, who had owned other hotels, wanted to operate the restored hotel, but lacked the financial resources for the preservation work. He executed a sale-and-leaseback
with Los Angeles
historical renovation developer Marlin Properties for $1.5 million, but a $250,000 payment from Marlin was returned NSF
in 1985. Before MacDonald could begin foreclosure proceedings, Marlin declared bankruptcy, and the hotel's ownership was tied up in litigation for almost a decade.
, but Marlin spent nothing to preserve the building while it was in bankruptcy. Visitors continued to tour the structure until 1989, when it was declared unsafe, and closed. During the winter of 1991, ice built up on the roof and in drainpipes, leading to the partial collapse of an exterior wall. In 1992, the National Trust for Historic Preservation
listed the hotel as one of America's most endangered places
. That same year, the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana (HLFI) matched an anonymous $70,000 donation, which paid for work to stabilize the main structure. Tie rods were installed, the roof was patched, drainage was improved on roof parapets, and the structure around the partially collapsed wall was secured. HLFI also composed promotional documents to help find a buyer, and promoted the creation of a local zoning and redevelopment commission.
Minnesota Investment Partners (MIP) purchased the property in May, 1994 for $500,000 from the bankruptcy receiver. Grand Casinos, Inc., an MIP investor, had provided the funding and held an option on the hotel, but was unsuccessful in their 1995 effort to pass "Boat on a Moat" legislation extending riverboat gambling to a proposed man-made lake adjacent to the hotel. When Grand Casinos walked away from their option, MIP tried to sell the property for $800,000, but a year passed with no interest. In July 1996, MIP accepted a purchase offer of $250,000 from HLFI West Baden, Inc., a new affiliate of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. The money was again provided by an anonymous donor.
Bill Cook, a billionaire entrepreneur and his wife, Gayle, from Bloomington, Indiana
, have been involved with several historic preservation projects. In the summer of 1996, their Cook Group, Inc. initiated activities to stabilize structural integrity and begin exterior restoration, which would attract potential buyers. The 30-month first phase of the project was completed in early 1999 at a cost of $30 million—2½ times their initial commitment. However, in addition to the exteriors of the hotel and outbuildings, the garden was recreated, and the interior atrium, lobby, dining room and adjoining rooms were also completely restored.
Over the next five years, the Cook Group spent another $5 million for maintenance.
) and Orange County citizens to lobby the Indiana legislature. The members spent so much time in the capital they were known as "The Orange Shirts" for the color of their t-shirts bearing the slogan, "Save French Lick and West Baden Springs".
Their legislation was finally approved in 2003 and the required local referendum easily passed. The Trump Organization
was initially granted the gambling license by the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC), but Trump's subsequent bankruptcy caused the selection process to begin again. The Cook family decided to form a new company, Blue Sky, LLC and submit their own application, before purchasing the French Lick Springs Hotel from Boykin Lodging. Blue Sky was awarded the gambling license during the summer of 2005, and the planning and permitting process for the Casino took off.
Construction of the French Lick Resort Casino
and renovation of the French Lick Springs Hotel occurred simultaneously in the fall of 2005.
The French Lick Springs Hotel and French Lick Resort Casino opened together on November 3, 2006.
A Gala event on June 23, 2007 marked the reopening of the West Baden Springs Hotel, 75 years after it closed. The reconfigured space contained 243 rooms and suites, fewer than half of the total in the original structure. The hotel's natatorium was rebuilt using historic photographs as a guide. The total cost of the complete restoration of the West Baden Springs Hotel totaled almost $100 million.
Indiana Landmarks holds a perpetual preservation easement on the West Baden Springs Hotel, which requires that any changes to the hotel's exterior or grounds be approved by Landmarks, even if ownership changes.
magazine.
In 2009, the American Automobile Association
recognized the hotel as one of the top 10 U.S. historic hotels and awarded it four diamonds.
The 2009 Zagat Survey
included the hotel on their list of Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas.
During the 1998-99 school year, some Linton-Stockton High School
students participated in a project researching and documenting West Baden Springs. A field trip was arranged for students to tour the historic hotel.
Advanced art students created black & white line drawings, and advanced computer students wrote research papers about the history of the hotel and springs, which were organized and placed for reference on the school district's website.
's 2010 thriller So Cold the River.
West Baden Springs, Indiana
West Baden Springs is a town in French Lick Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 574 at the 2010 census. It is the birthplace of NBA legend Larry Bird.-Geography:West Baden Springs is located at ....
in Orange County
Orange County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,306 people, 7,621 households, and 5,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile . There were 8,348 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, known for its vast dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
d atrium
Atrium (architecture)
In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
. It is currently part of the French Lick Resort. Prior to the completion of the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, in 1955, the building had the largest free-spanning dome in the United States and was the largest in the world from 1902 to 1913. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974, became a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1987, and is a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Early history
George Rogers ClarkGeorge Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...
is credited with discovering the salt licks and mineral springs
Mineral Springs
Mineral Springs is the name of several locations in the United States:* Mineral Springs, Arkansas* Mineral Springs, North Carolina* Mineral Springs Township, North Dakota* Mineral Springs at Green Springs, Ohio...
in 1778. The evidence of salt deposits enticed the government to plan on mining large quantities of salt for the demands of meat preservation to be used by the early pioneers. It was then determined the saline content was not sufficient to support the large scale extraction of salt and the property was offered for sale. Dr. William Bowles purchased the large tract of land where the French Lick Springs Resort now sits and built a small inn on the site. In 1832, the first French Lick Springs Hotel
French Lick Springs Hotel
The French Lick Springs Hotel is a historic resort hotel complex, now a part of the French Lick Resort Casino.The location was originally known as the French Lick Springs Hotel, a grand resort that catered to those who came to partake of the advertised healing properties of the town's sulfur...
was constructed and the area became popular as a mineral springs resort. During the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, Dr. Bowles served as a commissioned officer in the US Army. Before leaving, Dr. Bowles signed a five year lease with Dr. John Lane, who agreed to enlarge and improve the facility. Through the deal Dr. Bowles would enjoy an improved facility with the potential for increased business at the lease's end. Dr. Lane would get back his initial investment as well as improved trade. However, the war lasted less than two years, and Dr. Bowles returned early.
The land Bowles bought from the government included the mineral springs one mile (1.6 km) north of French Lick, known as Mile Lick. Much of the property surrounding the springs at Mile Lick was marshy, subject to yearly flooding, and unsuitable to farming. Lane envisioned a business surpassing that of French Lick, and in 1851, he purchased 770 acres (3.1 km²) from Bowles. Lane assembled a sawmill, then erected a bridge to traverse Lick Creek. He then built a fine hotel, larger than the French Lick Springs Hotel, and the competition began.
West Baden
When Lane opened his hotel in 1852 near the settlement of Mile Lick, he named his establishment the Mile Lick Inn. The community was renamed West Baden in 1855 (after WiesbadenWiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, the German city known for its mineral springs), and the hotel name was changed likewise. In 1887, the Monon
Monon Railroad
The Monon Railroad , also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway from 1897–1956, operated almost entirely within the state of Indiana...
railroad built an extension to take guests to the hotels and springs at French Lick and West Baden, who competed tooth and nail to offer the best service, entertainment, food and mineral water. West Baden marketed their water under the brand name, “Sprudel Water” with an elf named Sprudel. French Lick sold "Pluto Water" using a red devil trademark.
In the late 1800s, guests arrived from across the country on seven separate railroads for relaxation and the alleged curative powers of the mineral water. Sidewalks led from the hotel to seven numbered springs, all of which were covered by open wooden shelters.
A group that included Lee Wiley Sinclair from Salem, Indiana
Salem, Indiana
Salem is a city in Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana, United States. Salem serves as the county seat, and its downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places...
, purchased the hotel and 667 acres (2.7 km²) in 1888 for $23,000 and over the next few years, he bought his partner's interest. Sinclair turned the facility into a cosmopolitan resort, including a casino advertised as "The Carlsbad
Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is a spa city situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately west of Prague . It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370...
of America", an opera house and a two-deck, covered, one-third-mile oval bicycle and pony track. A lighted baseball diamond in the center of the track became the spring training grounds for several major league teams including the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. The whole structure burned down in the summer of 1901. No guests were injured, but Sinclair was forlorn. He invited Thomas Taggart
Thomas Taggart
Thomas Taggart was a U.S. political figure, serving as mayor of Indianapolis and influential in state and national politics.-Early life and family:...
, who owned the French Lick Springs Hotel, to buy the West Baden property, but Taggart rebuffed the offer, boasting that he would expand his facility to handle more guests. Sinclair was outraged and declared that his new hotel would be fireproof and would have the world's largest dome. Most building professionals rejected a 200 feet (61 m) skylight as impossible, but unknown West Virginia architect Harrison Albright
Harrison Albright
Harrison Albright was an American architect best known for his innovative design of the West Baden Springs Hotel in Orange County, Indiana, which boasted the largest free-spanning dome in the world at the time of its construction.- Biography :Born in the Ogontz neighborhood of North Philadelphia,...
designed the building and Oliver Wescott, a bridge engineer, designed the dome trusses.
To complete the structure before the first anniversary of the fire, a 500-man crew worked six days a week in 10-hour shifts for 270 days,
at a total cost of $414,000.
Eighth Wonder
Eighth Wonder of the World
Eighth Wonder of the World is a term sometimes used to describe things in comparison to the Seven Wonders of the World, the widely-known list of seven remarkable constructions of classical antiquity.-Natural places:...
. The resort's mineral water and baths were alleged to cure almost anything, and the hotel's amenities included a casino, live theater every night, opera, concerts, movies, bowling and billiards. Outside the hotel, guests had their choice of a natatorium
Natatorium
A natatorium is a term given for a building containing a swimming pool. In Latin, a cella natatoria was a swimming pool in its own building, although it is sometimes also used to refer to any indoor pool even if not housed in a dedicated building...
, two golf courses, bicycling on a double-decked covered oval bicycle track that was the largest in the country at 1760 feet (536.4 m), horseback riding, baseball, and several picturesque hiking trails. To cater to their well-heeled clientele, the hotel provided a bank and a stock brokerage. A trolley transported guests from the hotel's front door to nearby French Lick
French Lick, Indiana
French Lick is a town in French Lick Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,807 at the 2010 census. In early 2006 the French Lick Resort Casino, the state's tenth casino in the modern legalized era, opened drawing national attention to the small town.- History :French...
. Palm trees grew in the huge atrium where birds had free range and guests relaxed on overstuffed furniture grouped in clusters under the 200 feet (61 m) dome. The fireplace in the atrium was enormous in scale and could accommodate logs as long as 14 feet (4.3 m).
Some early advertisements claimed over 700 rooms, but most sources today cite around 500. The main building contained six floors: the ground floor held the lobby, hotel management offices, the dining area, shops and meeting rooms; saunas and mineral baths were located on the top floor; guest rooms were built in two concentric circles around the atrium on the second through fifth floors. Rooms on the inner ring overlooked the atrium; forty 4th and 6th floor rooms had balconies into the atrium.
The hotel rooms were small by today's standards. Most rooms had one or two twin beds, and did not have a private bathroom.
Notable guests
Chris Bundy, who authored the book, West Baden Springs: Legacy of Dreams stated, "These hotels were the Disney World of their time. In those days, it was assumed that if you could afford to come to America [for vacation], you would go to French Lick. It was that well-known overseas."Beginning in the late 1880s, southern Indiana was a favorite destination of the wealthy, famous, infamous, and near-famous who would relax, golf, gamble, enjoy fine dining, and be entertained.
Paul Dresser
Paul Dresser
Johann Paul Dresser, Jr. was a popular American songwriter of the late 19th century and early 20th century. As a child and adolescent he was frequently in trouble and spent several months in jail before joining a band of traveling minstrels...
composed Indiana's state song "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away
On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away
"On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" was among the best-selling songs of the 19th century in terms of sheet music sold. Written and composed by American songwriter Paul Dresser, it was published by the Tin Pan Alley firm of Howley, Haviland & Co. in October 1897. The lyrics of the ballad...
" at the hotel. Boxers John L. Sullivan
John L. Sullivan
John Lawrence Sullivan , also known as the Boston Strong Boy, was recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing from February 7, 1881 to 1892, and is generally recognized as the last heavyweight champion of bare-knuckle boxing under the London Prize Ring rules...
and James J. Corbett
James J. Corbett
James John "Gentleman Jim" Corbett was an Irish-American heavyweight boxing champion, best known as the man who defeated the great John L. Sullivan. He also coached boxing at the Olympic Club in San Francisco...
trained there. Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
and his bodyguards were frequent guests as was Diamond Jim Brady. Politicians included Mayor "Big Bill" Thompson
William Hale Thompson
William Hale Thompson was Mayor of Chicago from 1915 to 1923 and again from 1927 to 1931. Known as "Big Bill", Thompson was the last Republican to serve as Mayor of Chicago, and ranks among the most unethical mayors in American history.Thompson was born in Boston, Massachusetts to William Hale...
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and New York Governor Al Smith; also General John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
, writer George Ade
George Ade
George Ade was an American writer, newspaper columnist, and playwright.-Biography:Ade was born in Kentland, Indiana, one of seven children raised by John and Adaline Ade. While attending Purdue University, he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity...
, and entertainer Eva Tanguay
Eva Tanguay
Eva Tanguay was a Canadian-born singer and entertainer who billed herself as "the girl who made vaudeville famous".-Early life:...
.
Professional baseball teams even held their spring training in the region: Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, St. Louis Browns and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
Renovation
Minor renovations began in 1913, but Sinclair died in 1916. His daughter, Lillian, and her husband, Charles Rexford, had taken over the hotel's operation several years prior when Sinclair's health began to fail. A February 11, 1917 fire incinerated the bottling plant, opera house, bowling alley and hospital, forcing their replacement.Charles would not consent to major enhancements, but Lillian ignored his wishes and began a major restoration utilizing a Greco-Roman architectural style. During the years between 1917 and 1919, a mosaic terrazzo tile floor composed of 2 million one-inch squares of marble was installed in the Atrium by Italian artisans, and the huge fireplace was refaced with glazed ceramic tiles from the Rookwood Pottery Company
Rookwood Pottery Company
Rookwood Pottery is an American ceramics company now located in the Mount Adams neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1880, and successful until the Great Depression, production has been intermittent and at a low level since 1967, though there was a change of ownership in 2006, and expansion...
. Marble wainscotting was added to the atrium ground level walls, and the brick support columns were wrapped with canvas and painted to look like marble. Outside, an elaborate verandah
Verandah
A veranda or verandah is a roofed opened gallery or porch. It is also described as an open pillared gallery, generally roofed, built around a central structure...
was constructed, the wooden shelters at the springs were replaced with brick structures, and a sunken garden was created with a fountain featuring an angel.
John Edward Ballard began his career as a bowling alley worker in the hotel, but made a fortune by operating an illegal gambling business in the area. Ballard also owned several nationally recognized touring circuses. The hotel improvements were financed using money borrowed from Ballard.
The hotel was used as Army hospital #35 between 1918 and 1919 for wounded soldiers returning from World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Lillian was smitten by Lt. Charles Cooper during his stay at the hotel-hospital and fell in love. The Rexfords divorced in 1922; Lillian Sinclair sold the property to Ed Ballard for $1 million in 1923. Half the money repaid the debt to Ballard, and she kept the rest for her marriage to Cooper.
As ownership of automobiles increased, Florida destinations became more popular, and business declined in West Baden. Ballard tried to replace those guests with trade shows and conventions; however, the Wall Street Crash of 1929
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
began a downward spiral for the hotel. As word of the plummeting market spread, people congregated in the brokerage firm's offices at the hotel to confirm the news. By morning, nearly all the guests had left. Ballard kept the facility open for over two years, but few people stayed in luxury hotels during the depression
Great Depression in the United States
The Great Depression began with the Wall Street Crash of October, 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. The market crash marked the beginning of a decade of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, plunging farm incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth and personal advancement...
. He finally closed the hotel in June, 1932, and chose not to sell it to anyone who would turn it into a speakeasy
Speakeasy
A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. Such establishments came into prominence in the United States during the period known as Prohibition...
offering gambling and other vices. In 1934, he decided to donate the $7 million resort to a religious organization.
Jesuits
The JesuitsSociety of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
removed most of the hotel's luxurious fixtures, furnishings and decorations as they converted the building into an austere seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
known as West Baden College, an affiliate of Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
. The lobby was converted into a chapel, and stained-glass was installed in the windows and French doors.
The four Moorish towers were removed when they fell into disrepair.
At the Spring houses, truckloads of stone were dumped into the mineral spring pools, then capped with concrete and turned into shrines for the saints.
The Jesuits established a cemetery for the seminary's priests, which received 39 interments over the years. When the Jesuits sold the facility, they retained ownership of that small parcel of land and the Catholic Church in French Lick agreed to maintain the site.
The seminary operated for thirty years, but was closed following the 1963-1964 school year due to low enrollment and escalating maintenance costs. The Jesuits returned to Chicago.
Northwood Institute
On November 2, 1966 the Jesuits sold the property to Macauley and Helen Dow Whiting, who in turn donated it to Northwood InstituteNorthwood University
Northwood University is a private university with multiple locations. The school has four residential campuses: Midland, Michigan , Cedar Hill, Texas , West Palm Beach, Florida and a joint program with Hotel Institute Montreux in Montreux, Switzerland, began in 2001...
, a private college founded in Midland, Michigan
Midland, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of the state. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city's population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, which operated a satellite campus of their business management school on the property until 1983.
While Northwood was still open, basketball legend Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
, who was born in West Baden, held basketball clinics and staged games in the atrium. Bird briefly attended Northwood after leaving Indiana University, and before resuming collegiate basketball at Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
.
After the school closed, a former Springs Valley resident purchased the property from Northwood in October, 1983. H. Eugene MacDonald, who had owned other hotels, wanted to operate the restored hotel, but lacked the financial resources for the preservation work. He executed a sale-and-leaseback
Leaseback
Leaseback, short for sale-and-leaseback, is a financial transaction, where one sells an asset and leases it back for the long-term; therefore, one continues to be able to use the asset but no longer owns it...
with Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
historical renovation developer Marlin Properties for $1.5 million, but a $250,000 payment from Marlin was returned NSF
Non-sufficient funds
Non-sufficient funds is a term used in the banking industry to indicate that a demand for payment cannot be honored because insufficient funds are available in the account on which the instrument was drawn. In simplified terms, a cheque has been presented for clearance, but the amount written on...
in 1985. Before MacDonald could begin foreclosure proceedings, Marlin declared bankruptcy, and the hotel's ownership was tied up in litigation for almost a decade.
Preservation
Both schools had maintained the building's structure, and it was in reasonably good shape when MacDonald purchased it. In 1987, the property was declared a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, but Marlin spent nothing to preserve the building while it was in bankruptcy. Visitors continued to tour the structure until 1989, when it was declared unsafe, and closed. During the winter of 1991, ice built up on the roof and in drainpipes, leading to the partial collapse of an exterior wall. In 1992, the National Trust for Historic Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
listed the hotel as one of America's most endangered places
America's Most Endangered Places
Each year since 1987, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has released a list of places they consider the most endangered in America. The number of sites included on the list has varied, with the most recent lists settling on 11...
. That same year, the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana (HLFI) matched an anonymous $70,000 donation, which paid for work to stabilize the main structure. Tie rods were installed, the roof was patched, drainage was improved on roof parapets, and the structure around the partially collapsed wall was secured. HLFI also composed promotional documents to help find a buyer, and promoted the creation of a local zoning and redevelopment commission.
Minnesota Investment Partners (MIP) purchased the property in May, 1994 for $500,000 from the bankruptcy receiver. Grand Casinos, Inc., an MIP investor, had provided the funding and held an option on the hotel, but was unsuccessful in their 1995 effort to pass "Boat on a Moat" legislation extending riverboat gambling to a proposed man-made lake adjacent to the hotel. When Grand Casinos walked away from their option, MIP tried to sell the property for $800,000, but a year passed with no interest. In July 1996, MIP accepted a purchase offer of $250,000 from HLFI West Baden, Inc., a new affiliate of Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. The money was again provided by an anonymous donor.
Bill Cook, a billionaire entrepreneur and his wife, Gayle, from Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, have been involved with several historic preservation projects. In the summer of 1996, their Cook Group, Inc. initiated activities to stabilize structural integrity and begin exterior restoration, which would attract potential buyers. The 30-month first phase of the project was completed in early 1999 at a cost of $30 million—2½ times their initial commitment. However, in addition to the exteriors of the hotel and outbuildings, the garden was recreated, and the interior atrium, lobby, dining room and adjoining rooms were also completely restored.
Over the next five years, the Cook Group spent another $5 million for maintenance.
Casino Resort
HLFI West Baden unsuccessfully marketed the property nationally for over five years before realizing that casino gaming was the key to their success. Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana joined with the Cook Group, Boykin Lodging (owner of the French Lick Springs HotelFrench Lick Springs Hotel
The French Lick Springs Hotel is a historic resort hotel complex, now a part of the French Lick Resort Casino.The location was originally known as the French Lick Springs Hotel, a grand resort that catered to those who came to partake of the advertised healing properties of the town's sulfur...
) and Orange County citizens to lobby the Indiana legislature. The members spent so much time in the capital they were known as "The Orange Shirts" for the color of their t-shirts bearing the slogan, "Save French Lick and West Baden Springs".
Their legislation was finally approved in 2003 and the required local referendum easily passed. The Trump Organization
Trump Organization
The Trump Organization is a limited liability corporation conglomerate based in Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York. The organization owns, operates, and develops hotels, resorts, residential towers, and golf courses in different countries, as well as owning several pieces of high-end real estate in...
was initially granted the gambling license by the Indiana Gaming Commission (IGC), but Trump's subsequent bankruptcy caused the selection process to begin again. The Cook family decided to form a new company, Blue Sky, LLC and submit their own application, before purchasing the French Lick Springs Hotel from Boykin Lodging. Blue Sky was awarded the gambling license during the summer of 2005, and the planning and permitting process for the Casino took off.
Construction of the French Lick Resort Casino
French Lick Resort Casino
French Lick Resort is a resort complex located in the towns of West Baden and French Lick, Indiana. The complex includes two historic resort spa hotels, stables, a casino and three golf courses, all part of a $500 million restoration and development project....
and renovation of the French Lick Springs Hotel occurred simultaneously in the fall of 2005.
Restoration
In the spring of 2006, HLFI West Baden signed over the West Baden Springs Hotel deed to Cook Group for a token amount in appreciation for the $35 million already invested. Restoration of that facility resumed in the summer of 2006.The French Lick Springs Hotel and French Lick Resort Casino opened together on November 3, 2006.
A Gala event on June 23, 2007 marked the reopening of the West Baden Springs Hotel, 75 years after it closed. The reconfigured space contained 243 rooms and suites, fewer than half of the total in the original structure. The hotel's natatorium was rebuilt using historic photographs as a guide. The total cost of the complete restoration of the West Baden Springs Hotel totaled almost $100 million.
Indiana Landmarks holds a perpetual preservation easement on the West Baden Springs Hotel, which requires that any changes to the hotel's exterior or grounds be approved by Landmarks, even if ownership changes.
Recognition
The hotel was ranked 21st on the 2008 list of the Top 75 Mainland U.S. Resorts by Condé NastCondé Nast Publications
Condé Nast, a division of Advance Publications, is a magazine publisher. In the U.S., it produces 18 consumer magazines, including Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Vogue, as well as four business-to-business publications, 27 websites, and more than 50 apps...
magazine.
In 2009, the American Automobile Association
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
recognized the hotel as one of the top 10 U.S. historic hotels and awarded it four diamonds.
The 2009 Zagat Survey
Zagat Survey
Zagat Survey was established by Tim and Nina Zagat in 1979 as a way to collect and correlate the ratings of restaurants by diners. For their first guide, covering New York City, the Zagats surveyed their friends. As of 2005, the Zagat Survey included 70 cities, with reviews based on the input of...
included the hotel on their list of Top U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas.
During the 1998-99 school year, some Linton-Stockton High School
Linton-Stockton High School
Linton-Stockton High School is located in Linton, Indiana in Greene County. It is home to about 450 students. The mascot for this school is the Miner, and the school colors are red and blue. With Linton winning the majority of the games in recent years but Sullivan leading the series 51-41-2...
students participated in a project researching and documenting West Baden Springs. A field trip was arranged for students to tour the historic hotel.
Advanced art students created black & white line drawings, and advanced computer students wrote research papers about the history of the hotel and springs, which were organized and placed for reference on the school district's website.
In Popular Culture
The resort at West Baden Springs is featured as the setting of Michael KorytaMichael Koryta
Michael Koryta is an American author of contemporary crime and mystery fiction. He is known for novels such as Tonight I Said Goodbye, Sorrow's Anthem, A Welcome Grave and The Silent Hour ....
's 2010 thriller So Cold the River.
Additional reading
- Bundy, Chris: West Baden Springs, Legacy of Dreams 2001
- Smith, John Martin: French Lick and West Baden Springs ISBN 0738551333, Arcadia Publishing, 2007
- Gatsos, Gregory S.: History of the West Baden Springs Hotel 2007
- Shigley, J. Robert: he jewel of the valley: A narrative & pictorial history of the Springs valley area and the West Baden Springs Hotel 1991